Letters About Literature

Letters About Literature Writing Contest

[Prompt]

• Write a personal letter to an author whose work (either fiction or nonfiction) changed your view of the world or yourself.

[Steps]

• Determine competition level
  • You are Level 3 (grades 9-12)
• Select and Reflect!
  • Select a fiction or non-fiction book you have read and about which you have strong feelings.
  • Explore those feelings and why you reacted the way that you did during or after reading the author's work.
  • Consider these questions when writing:
    • What did the book show you about your world that you have never noticed before?
    • What did you realize about yourself as a result of reading this book?
    • Why was this work meaningful to you?
    • How do you know the author's work influenced you?
• Write a persuasive letter
  • Remember: letters are less formal than an essay or research paper
  • Write honestly and in your own voice- like you are having a conversation with the author
  • Remember: correspond- don't compliment! Inform the author, don't flatter him/her.
  • Remember: do not summarize the plot! (The author wrote it- he/she knows what happened!)
• Submit letter
  • See Ms. Wiltshire for a permission form
  • Entries are due with permission forms no later than Friday, December 6th.

[Assessment]

• Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
  • Content- addressing the contest prompt
  • Writer's voice- writing style and originality of expression
  • Exposition- language skills, organization, and grammar
• Each criterion will be scored on a scale of 0-5
• Entries for level 3 should be no less than 600 words and no more than 1500 words.

[Awards]

• State winners will receive cash awards ($300) and go to the national judging level
• National level- one winner/ competition level will receive $1,000 cash award
• National level- one "National honor"/competition level to receive $200 cash award